Topic: Sportwashing-A general thread

[harleydanger]

To me it’s clear as day these 9year contracts Chelsea are handing out are simply about setting up a pipeline of talent to Saudi Arabia.

[The North Bank]

Just saw on twitter, a fan gifting a shocked Fabinho a rolex because he had a good game. Its obscene out there.

[Passmaster Molby]

Just saw on twitter, a fan gifting a shocked Fabinho a rolex because he had a good game. Its obscene out there.

Think Fabinho was probably more shocked he had a good game.

[rob1966]

Stevie's club posted this. People who live in the Middle East who are LFC supporters are in the crowd for their game. This is what they wanted.

Fucking gimps.

[slaphead]

Just heard a report from Ben Jacobs, who said he's been out there months now, talking about the league in general and a game between Gerrards team and someone else last night. 25k seater stadium, 18k in it. He was trying to make the league sound appealing but it sounded so shit. After the game, Henderson spent a long time walking round the blue track taking selfies and photos with fans. Sounds great out there doesn't it

[classycarra]

Just heard a report from Ben Jacobs, who said he's been out there months now, talking about the league in general and a game between Gerrards team and someone else last night. 25k seater stadium, 18k in it. He was trying to make the league sound appealing but it sounded so shit. After the game, Henderson spent a long time walking round the blue track taking selfies and photos with fans. Sounds great out there doesn't it

That's an inflated attendance too as Ronaldo was due to play. Very much a one off (there was some attendance data on another thread)

They usually don't get close to 50% full (and this is in a city of over a million population). Not exactly football mad! (but that's before they've seen Henderson as the number 10 )

[BarryCrocker]

Just saw on twitter, a fan gifting a shocked Fabinho a rolex because he had a good game. Its obscene out there.

https://talksport.com/football/1533452/

[I've been a good boy]

Just saw on twitter, a fan gifting a shocked Fabinho a rolex because he had a good game. Its obscene out there.

Fabinho's reaction was hilarious. A "what the fuck?" look on his face followed by a quick thumbs up then walking away. I'd love to know what the Saudis in that team think of that, and if they have ever been awarded a watch for a good game.

[Yorkykopite]

Fabinho's reaction was hilarious. A "what the fuck?" look on his face followed by a quick thumbs up then walking away. I'd love to know what the Saudis in that team think of that, and if they have ever been awarded a watch for a good game.

It's undignified. After his second match Firmino was seen holding a cardboard sign at the directors' entrance - 'Sheik Petrodallah, can I have your Rolex watch please'

[Broad Spectrum]

Is that Gerrard's wife bottom left?

Think Fabinho was probably more shocked he had a good game.

Ha!

[Barneylfc∗]

Exactly what I predicted when people said no one would watch it, so what does it matter? DAZN and BEIN will test the water, see what the response is (meaning 'how much money will it make?') and regardless of how shit the league is, broadcasting Saudi games will become the norm. That's the whole point, really.

It's also becoming more prominent on betting sites with player prop markets, specials etc being available. It's here for the long haul.

[Kopenhagen]

Think Fabinho was probably more shocked he had a good game.

[Samie]

Highest paid payers in Saudi league plus Messi and Mbappe.

[LuverlyRita]

Just saw on twitter, a fan gifting a shocked Fabinho a rolex because he had a good game. Its obscene out there.

The scale of the excess is nauseating. It all feels a bit Marie Antoinette

[jambutty]

Coming soon to a major city near you.

The Saudi All-Star League.

[Red Beret]

Just saw on twitter, a fan gifting a shocked Fabinho a rolex because he had a good game. Its obscene out there.

Yeah, but if Fab has a bad game, the watch self destructs and takes his hand with it.

[GreatEx]

Didn't realise Hendo was such a pauper. 2M euros a week for Kante, the fuck? I suppose in a retirement league he might manage more than a game a month.

[Jwils21]

The calibre of players going over there is genuinely depressing. There are some real big names who bring a lot of attention.

[redgriffin73]

Ronaldo must be fuming that Benzema is on the same wage.

[BlackandWhitePaul]

It's all about the fucking money, innit!

It is pure greed, it must be cos they all ready multi millionaires.

How much is enough for these insufferable bastards?

[Jwils21]

Laporte is off to Saudi Arabia now. Apparently Arsenal were about to bid, and the lowest risk option is to flog him as far away from the Premier League and Champions League as possible.

[FiSh77]

Didn't realise Hendo was such a pauper. 2M euros a week for Kante, the fuck? I suppose in a retirement league he might manage more than a game a month.

He'll spend most of the season injured then be fit for whenever they play them c*nts who want to be us

[jambutty]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/could-the-premier-league-be-forced-to-remove-newcastle-united-s-owners/vi-AA1fmg0v?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=692978a6ecab489b89ce4ac856892eac&ei=24

[stockdam]

What worries me most is that Saudi Arabia could start a new super league and entice all the top clubs in. They could create their own versions of the Champions League etc and with enough money behind it then it could happen soon.

[Terry de Niro]

What worries me most is that Saudi Arabia could start a new super league and entice all the top clubs in. They could create their own versions of the Champions League etc and with enough money behind it then it could happen soon.

Nailed on within 5 years.
R.I.P. football as we once knew it.

[reddebs]

What worries me most is that Saudi Arabia could start a new super league and entice all the top clubs in. They could create their own versions of the Champions League etc and with enough money behind it then it could happen soon.

Serves FIFA and UEFA right for turning blind eyes and at least the rest of us can have our league back 👍

[lfc_col]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/could-the-premier-league-be-forced-to-remove-newcastle-united-s-owners/vi-AA1fmg0v?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=692978a6ecab489b89ce4ac856892eac&ei=24

In an ideal world that would happen but its not and it won't they will wiggle out of it somehow

[lfc_col]

Serves FIFA and UEFA right for turning blind eyes and at least the rest of us can have our league back 👍

Us and the other top clubs would join it unfortunately i bet

[In the Name of Klopp]

When someone said on this thread, that their aim was to part of the  CL or join UEFA I didn't believe it but here we are 😂


https://www.goal.com/en/news/saudi-arabia-champions-league-wild-card-uefa/blt3f9f2cbba89a50e5

[shook]

When someone said on this thread, that their aim was to part of the  CL or join UEFA I didn't believe it but here we are 😂


https://www.goal.com/en/news/saudi-arabia-champions-league-wild-card-uefa/blt3f9f2cbba89a50e5

this may happen, and of course it would further expose FFP as a farce

[Qston]

In an ideal world that would happen but its not and it won't they will wiggle out of it somehow

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66531007

Probably

[Dench57]

Szczesny: I have no interest in Saudi football

Wojciech Szczesny says he has no interest of quitting Juventus for Saudi Arabia, saying he has "other priorities than pursuing money".

The 33-year-old has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, but is set to stay in Turin for now.

“I have no shortage of money in my life. I prefer cool challenges, and defending the Juventus goal is the coolest challenge I can give myself,” he said.

“I don’t read much about football, but I know a few players have gone there [Saudi Arabia] and I’m not surprised.

“I understand that someone can make such a decision and it seems quite logical. I believe it is worth having other priorities than pursuing money.”

Is right Chesney.

[darragh85]

to be honest I'm beginning to view this as the beginning of the end of the abomination that we call the sport of football today. There is no semblance between this and what I grew up following religiously. I've lost all interest in the sport in general and only interested in Liverpool.

I think the mass buyout by the super  wealthy middle east nations such as Saudi Arabia will hopefully weed out alot of  the mercenaries, excess, corruption and power games out of the European leagues and take it over there while the sport will return to what it was in the 80s and 90s over here.

Maybe wishful thinking. Time will tell

[HomesickRed]

Nailed on within 5 years.
R.I.P. football as we once knew it.

There was talk a few years ago that the new American influx would lead to 'franchises' being uprooted and playing some 'home' games in different stadia across the world.
They tried to introduce the phrase "Manchester United at Norwich" etc to describe away games.
The relative lack of financial clout of the Americans meant they couldn't see it through. Being fragmented, the owners also lacked an overarching philosophical reason for doing so.
The Middle East oil nations have both the clout, and the reasons. In spades.
Like you, I think football as we know it has ceased to exist following last years World Cup, and what we are seeing is just the start.

[Terry de Niro]

There was talk a few years ago that the new American influx would lead to 'franchises' being uprooted and playing some 'home' games in different stadia across the world.
They tried to introduce the phrase "Manchester United at Norwich" etc to describe away games.
The relative lack of financial clout of the Americans meant they couldn't see it through. Being fragmented, the owners also lacked an overarching philosophical reason for doing so.
The Middle East oil nations have both the clout, and the reasons. In spades.
Like you, I think football as we know it has ceased to exist following last years World Cup, and what we are seeing is just the start.

That cut through most European club's seasons fixtures.
Massive joke and the joke was on as usual the match-going supporters of club football.

But Che Neville and Co would disagree with that.   

[Crosby Nick]

Szczesny: I have no interest in Saudi football

Wojciech Szczesny says he has no interest of quitting Juventus for Saudi Arabia, saying he has "other priorities than pursuing money".

The 33-year-old has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, but is set to stay in Turin for now.

“I have no shortage of money in my life. I prefer cool challenges, and defending the Juventus goal is the coolest challenge I can give myself,” he said.

“I don’t read much about football, but I know a few players have gone there [Saudi Arabia] and I’m not surprised.

“I understand that someone can make such a decision and it seems quite logical. I believe it is worth having other priorities than pursuing money.”

Is right Chesney.

Feels like he’s the one and only footballer to have come out and said this.

[Brissyred]

How much money do you need?
Makes me want to puke.

[semit5]

The calibre of players going over there is genuinely depressing. There are some real big names who bring a lot of attention.

The vast majority that have gone over have a year or 2 left in them. Neymar’s football career ended when he left Barcelona. Not many decent players with 5 or more years left in them would consider it

[I've been a good boy]

How much money do you need?
Makes me want to puke.

Not a single person on earth who deserves all that. Saudi need to be ashamed of themselves, a disgusting flaunting of wealth when vital workers in nearby regions are living on minimum wage, and sometimes not even getting paid.

[Billy The Kid]

I wait patiently for the day for football fans to realise that

(a) complaining about sportswashing and bemoaning players for taking Arabian money will do absolutely nothing to arrest the problem

(b) the only way British football is ever going to be pulled out of the sportswashing fire is if fans throughout the country unite to plan an organised & targeted protest

(c) there's a reason this shite isn't permitted to happen in Germany, and that perhaps the solution is right under our noses if we bother to look for it